Say YES to the dress … and the book!

Saturday I went wedding dress shopping with my daughter, her bridesmaids, and my 85-year-old grandmother. Here is the group! (I was taking the photo.) My daughter Leslie is the second on the left with the curly hair!

Leslie Goyer picking out her wedding dress.

I took photos of my daughter in the dresses she was trying on, and the dress she CHOSE! (It was the 4th one!) But at least a dozen times I was told, “Don’t you dare share those photos online!” So I’m sorry, friends … you’ll have to wait and see the wedding photos in May!

Leslie had a good idea going in what type of dress she was looking for, but when she put on the fourth one it was so HER. The cut, the style … the dress looked as if it was made for my daughter.

As I thought about this, it made me think about the books authors write. I’ve been asked often, “How do you choose an idea?” Sometimes it’s hard to explain. An idea starts as a seed of a thought and then it grows.

For me there’s a few things that make a story idea “fit.”

1. The style. All of the books I write have a similar message, “God has chosen you for a purpose,” and “He has a plan to use ordinary people in extraordinary ways.” Brides look for a certain style, authors do, too!

2. The details. I love research. I love mixing true details into my fiction. I write about World War II, Amish, and historical fiction … which means I can bring true events and customs to fiction. Just like wedding dresses have unique details, novels do too.

3. The way I feel. When my daughter put on the right wedding dress she didn’t want to take it off. When I have a story idea that keeps playing in my mind I know it’s the right one. When I write a novel I spend months and months with those people, and in that situation. When I enjoy the journey with these people I know my readers will too.

There are numerous ideas for authors to choose from … but when the right one comes it’s wonderful to say YES!

Tricia Goyer is a busy mom of six, grandmother of two, and wife to John. A bestselling author, Tricia has published 40+ books to date and has written more than 500 articles. Tricia currently leads a Teen MOPS Group in Little Rock, AR. Learn more about Tricia at www.triciagoyer.com.

Ohhh – lucky you — you had your very own Say Yes to the Dress episode. And I loved the Pinterest board too.

Okay — what makes me say yes to a book? Would it be terribly shallow of me to say the cover has something to do with it if I’m in a bookstore browsing? It is, after all, what catches my eye first. Of course, I’ll go on to read the back blurb and if I’m still unsure I’ll skim the first few pages. Of course much loved authors could sell me a book with a dreadful cover. I’d know the quality of what’s inside, but if I don’t know the author and the cover is unappealing or downright amateurish, I’ll just skip on by.

Most of the time it’s the cover on the book that attracts me. Then there’s the time frame the story was written. Can I relate to it. Such as Where Tree Tops Glisten. Yes,I can relate to that time in history since my dad served in ww11 and mom had to work in an ammunition factory.
Then I chose stories about the Amish people because I’m curious about them and want to learn more about them. Again I will chose a book to read because I like the author and have read her books before.
Blessings
Shirley

It’s going to be great fun to follow along with your daughter’s wedding preparations!

It’s so true. Just like the right wedding dress, certain story ideas just ‘fit’ me. I’m drawn to classic romantic plot lines that I can give a modern twist to. I always have one larger than life character. Feisty heroines. And there’s usually a situation in which God gives the characters a second chance at something. Oh how I love God’s gracious ability to extend second chances!

It was wonderful seeing all that was posted on here. Being so far away, and not able to there to enjoy the fun and excitement of my Grand daughter Leslie’s fun day of shopping for her dress. Know that you are all in my heart and prayers. I love you.

Loved the pins on the wedding ideas board. When I got married we did not have pinterest, but I had a notebook full of ideas for my wedding. We settled for a country western wedding held at a campmeeting grounds where my family had went to since before I was born.

When it comes down to choosing a book to read, n there is many factors that go into me picking what I am going to read next. Especially if the author is one of my favorites I have to read the book or the series. I can go from a historical to a Amish to a contemporary book. The covers sometimes help me to decide if I want to read a new author and also reading the synposis of the story.

Now when it comes down to what I am writing, my character are based off of people in my life that I place into other time periods or now. Putting my thoughts on paper, researching the small details to make things accurate just makes things come to life on paper.

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